Improvement in bee-hives



v 2 Sheets--Sheet 1. `J. S. PROCTOR.

improvement in Be-e Hives.

. No. 122,279, .Patmed Dec. 26,1871;

UNITED STATES JAMES S. PROCTER, OF FRANKLIN, KENTUCKY.

4IMPROVEMENT IN BEE-HIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,279, dated December2d, 1871.

To all whom it may concern: j

Be it known that I, JAMES S. PRooTER, of Franklin, in the county ofSimpson and `State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bee-Hives; and I do hereby declare that the following'is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference beinghad tothe accompanying drawing and to the letters of ret'- erence markedthereon which form a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangementof a bee-hive, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe'itsconstruction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which-L Figure l is a transverse vertical section, and Fig. 2 a longitudinalvertical section of my hive. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of thecombi frames.

The lower or brood-chamber A is made twelve and three-quarters incheswide, eighteen and' three-quarters long, and nine and three-eighthsdeep, inside measurement, and has a bottom, a,

.of wire-cloth. The sides are planed or rabbeted out on the inside toreceive the ends of the top bars of the frames B, which rest upon a thinmetal side or rest, b, attached to the side in such a manner that whenthe frames are suspended on them the top of the bars are raised to alevel with the top of the chamber. The upper chamber C is movable., andis made exactly the same width, length, and depth 5 the tops and sideconstructed the same as the sides ot' the lower chamber. The chamber Chas no bottom, but, when adjusted, rests in part on the outer walls ofthe lower chamber A, and the inner side resting ou the ends of the topbars of the frames, thus securing said fra-mes in their places, andpreventing the bees from approaching their ends to glue or wax them tothe sides of the chamber. The top D is movable, fitting equally welleither chamber, and, when adj usted, also rests on the' outer wall ofthe chamber and the ends of the top bars, in the same manner and for thesame purpose as the upper chamber. .It has a false or inner bottom, E,of Wire-cloth, by which the bees are confined to the chamber Withoutobstructing free ventilation in connection with the ventilators d in theends of the top, but permits the escape of heat or moisture; and, whenthe ventilators are closed, it gives ample dead-air space above thechamber, just Where it is most needed. The fra-mes B B are soconstructed and arranged that, when suspended in the cham bers, theyleave a suitable distance between their sides and bottom and the sidesand bottom of the hive, while their distance from each other isdetermined by the width of the top bars, which counect throughout theirlength, and which have a vertical opening or openings, c, (slots orholes,),

through their centers connecting With a horizontal opening or space, c',in the top of the combguide f, and in combination with which a space isformed which admits the tree passage through them of bees or currents ofair in either a horizontal or vertical direction. The moth-trap consistsof vertical slots or Vholes h through the alightin g board Gr,communicating with the drawer or receiver H below. Above the slots areadjustable or fixed shields k, which, when adjusted, prevent thebeesfrom approaching the slots, but furnish a safe retreat or approachfor the miller to the slots, through which he passes to the drawerbeneath, which, being separated by a partition or separate drawer, I,from the vbottom ofthe hive, prevents the deposit ofthe eggs where theycan have sufficient heat and nourishment for their progeny to be reared,while the volume of light admitted by the ventilators attracts themiller to the front of the drawer and prevents his escape. By means ofthe ventilators t' t' inboth ends and partitions of moth andtrashdrawer, and in each end ofthe movable top, the ventilation may beregulated and controlled at will, rendering the hive amply warm for anorthern or cool enough for a southern latitude. In the brood-chamber AYforV a strong colony I use ten frames, and confine the colony to thespace occupied by the frames by introducing a false end or partition, J,in one or both ends, lea-ving air-spaces in the'end or ends of thechamber. Then adjust the top and regulate the ventilation at will. j

When for any purposeit is desired to open or examine, remove the top,slip the false ends back to the ends ofthe chamber, when the frames maybe spread or taken out; or each one may be examined as it is moved backon the rest b Without raising from its bearing. If surplus honey storedin boxes is desired, close the vertical openings e in the top bars ofthe frame, leaving only as many open as correspond with the openings inthe boxes; place theboxes; then adjust the chamber and top. If inframes, suspend the same or a less number as in the llower chamber;adjust the false ends and top. When a less number is used above than isin the lower chamber, close slots in top bars of lower frames, thatwould otherwise permit the bees to pass into the airchambers. To formnucleuses for queen rearing, cover the vertical openin gs in the topbars of Ythe lower chamber with Wire-cloth or perforated tin; formnucleuses in the upper chamber by introducing the necessary number ofmovable partitions; close openings in the top bars ofthe frames used fornucleuses with strips of wire-cloth or perforated tin; make asinallopening in rear of the own I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES S. PROCTER."

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SMITH, M. MITCHELL.

